First Communion

First Communion is the holy sacrament where Catholics receive the Eucharist for the first time. The Eucharist is the reception of the body and blood of Christ through bread and wine. It is administered at every Catholic Mass. Generally, children aged seven or eight years old who have already been baptized undergo the sacrament of First Communion, but it can be a sacrament experienced by anyone of any age.

In the pictures featured in this exhibit, we see a number of Native American children dressed in white, many with their hands together. This is traditional for First Communions, where the receivers, especially girls and women, typically dress in white to symbolize purity. Their hands are together to symbolize prayer and dutifulness as they are now ready to receive the Holy Spirit through the Eucharist.

The second and third pictures feature a Catholic priest and Catholic nuns. We read excerpts from Father Griva's diary and 1926 Corpus Christi account. In these texts, it is evident that Jesuit priests on the Plateau were very involved in the spiritual and religious activities across the region. While Father Griva is not featured in any of these photos, we can imagine that the sentiments expressed in his written work are similar to those of the priest in the picture displayed here. In reflecting on the 1926 Corpus Christi celebration Father Griva stated, "No doubt, some good has been done, and our Lord has been honored and glorified by these poor Indians in the best way they know how" (Edward Griva, "Account of the Celebration of the Feast of Corpus Christi in some Indian Missions 1926;" Edward Griva Collection; Oregon Province Archives of the Society of Jesus, Foley Library, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington).

In this quote, we can see the complicated nature of the Jesuits on the Plateau, as it was clearly an unequal relationship where they thought they were better and more knowledgeable than the Native Americans with whom they worked. They were enthusiastic about the participation of Native Americans in Catholic ceremonies, and we can guess that the Jesuits were overjoyed by the large number of children who received their First Communion in these pictures, but it is important to note that the relationship between the Jesuits and the Plateau Indians was an unequal one with little respect for the Indians of the area. This is important as we look at these pictures of Native American children at their First Communion, acknowledging that the way the Jesuits viewed the Plateau Indians can impact events such as these to have an unequal power dynamic.